Pueblo -- Colorado State University - Pueblo has collaborated with the Western Forensic Law Enforcement Training Center (WFLETC) to secure $248,375 in funding from the National Institute of Justice - Crime Laboratory Improvement Program (CLIP). The grant was seeded through a U.S. Congressionally directed award sponsored by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

The NIJ-CLIP grant funding will support two major initiatives. The grant will be used to establish a forensic casework analysis laboratory, the services of which will be available to all law enforcement agencies throughout Colorado. The lab aims to alleviate the backlog of casework in the areas of fire debris, explosives, and blood alcohol analysis. The laboratory will be housed on the CSU-Pueblo campus within the Department of Chemistry. All forensic analysis services will be offered free of charge to law enforcement agencies in Colorado.

In addition to performing forensic casework, the WFLETC also will provide training to laboratory personnel in trace analysis, management and response training for personnel in explosive recognition, terrorism awareness, booby-trap recognition, and post-blast investigation. Courses in crime scene processing, weapons of mass destruction response, and laboratory analysis of chemical weapons/explosives, are planned for development and subsequent delivery by WFLETC staff.

James B. Crippin, director of the WFLETC and chief forensic analyst, has more than 25 years of experience in forensic analysis. He is well known within the state and national law enforcement ranks and is a member of many professional forensic/law enforcement organizations. He has taught various forensic/law enforcement classes over the last two decades throughout the U.S. and internationally.

The initiatives of this grant partnering CSU-Pueblo and the WFLETC complement new degree program initiatives offered within the award-winning Department of Chemistry. A forensic science emphasis has been developed within the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree program in chemistry, which is a Colorado Commission on Higher Education Program of Excellence. A forensic science minor will be offered to augment the educational opportunities for other major programs at CSU-Pueblo, including students pursuing a BS in sociology - criminology.

"We welcome the opportunity to serve Colorado law enforcement agencies through forensic casework analysis and to provide training for current and future law enforcement personnel and forensic scientists," said Dr. Kristy Proctor, Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. "Given the increased interest in forensic science in the cultural mainstream and given the state's caseload for such projects, we feel fortunate to be given the opportunity to serve the needs of the state and our students through this grant."

For additional information, contact the WFLETC laboratory at 719 549-2194, or visit the web site at http://csm.colostate-pueblo.edu/chem/forensicSplash.html.

Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.